The spectacular Guy Fawkes' Night

Tuesday 12 April 2011

zoocha-admin

If you get the chance to spend a few days in England the first week of November, there's one event you shouldn't miss: the spectacular Guy Fawkes Night. On November 5 or close to it, several places throughout England commemorate the Gunpowder Plot of 1605and the capture of Guy Fawkes with spectacular fireworks and bonfires.

Fireworks

˜Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot Back in 1605 a group of Catholic conspirators plotted to blow up Westminster Palace and assassinate the Protestant King James I the day of the State Opening of the Parliament, on November 5. The plan was to detonate 36 barrels of gunpowder as an act of revolt against the prosecution of Catholics, who had to practice their religion in secret. Guy Fawkes played a prominent role in the late stage of the conspiracy: he was who should have lit the gunpowder barrels but he got discovered and caught just before, imprisoned, tortured and then put to death. Since then, every year the English celebrate the failed conspiracy with fireworks and effigies are burnt on bonfires.

˜Spectacular Fireworks in St Albans Last year I attended the Guy Fawkes night in St Albans, a lovely city in Hertfordshire where I spent a couple of days. The fireworks display, one of the largest in South Eastern England, attracted more than 20,000 people in the Verulamium Park, where the celebration traditionally takes place. The 25-minutes show was breathtaking, with its awesome colors and shapes designing the sky. I hadn't seen such spectacular fireworks since New Year's Eve in Sydney. Thus, if you happen to be in England the first week of November remember to include Guy Fawkes night in your agenda. _____ Images via Simon Falvo, Wild About Travel and Somewhere in the world today on Flickr